Although this portable powerhouse reaches top temperatures with ease, it is more difficult to learn how to harness the heat of the grill surface for foods that require more low-and-slow cooking. But if you hope to regularly grill up delicious meals while on the road, the Weber Q 1200 is an accessible portable grill that is sure to appeal to both novice cooks and professional chefs alike. Cook six burgers at once on this portable charcoal grill from Weber. The legs on this grill flip over to become handles, making it compact and secure for traveling. Plus, with Weber Connect, you can turn this portable grill into a smart grill, which will let you know when your food is ready to flip or done cooking as well as offer recipes and tips.
One thing to love about this model, however, is the damper adjustments that allow you to control airflow and, in turn, the heat for more precise grilling. The Akorn Jr. charcoal grill got hotter than any other grill I tested, which is not surprising since charcoal weber charcoal grill grills often do. The shape and style of this grill make it very good for heat retention, heat distribution and evenness of grilling. While all the grills on this list are portable to some degree, certain models are decidedly more portable than others.
She’s an expert on all things home, including kitchen appliances, grills, and other cooking gadgets. Keep in mind that this is a little different than normal grilling, since it cooks from the top and bottom, which means your food cooks faster. Make sure you preheat your grill until the green light clicks.
With 200 square inches of cooking space, you can grill for a tailgating crowd or a backyard BBQ. Weber has a reputation for building grills that gracefully blend cooking performance and reliability, and that tradition is rolled into a portable package with the impressive Weber Q 1200. Simply put, this model let us grill with more precision, predictability, and control than any other model we bought and tested. We tested five propane models, and the Weber Q 1200 Gas Grillis the best portable gas grill for most people. In our tests, the Q 1200 outperformed the competition at both high-heat searing and low-and-slow grilling, with the fewest flare-ups. The Q 1200 has a cast-aluminum firebox that evenly distributes heat across its 189-square-inch grilling grate.
They’re commonly constructed from thin porcelainized steel with thin wire-rod grilling grates. Charcoal grills’ simple construction is what makes them budget friendly. Portable gas grills are generally designed to be used with small 1-pound propane tanks, and with these, a regulator is not needed. However, if you want to use a larger propane tank—such as a 20-pound tank—with a portable grill, you’ll need an adapter and regulator. Most brands sell the appropriate attachment for their portable grill models.
Carrying a dusty, dirty charcoal grill around isn’t usually an attractive proposition, but the creators of the GoBQ have mostly solved the issue through intelligent design. The entire unit folds out and up in about 20 seconds and then wraps up again after you’re done, securing all the nasty cooked charcoal. Use a high-quality portable bbq hardwood charcoal to ensure you get a good fire. Charcoal briquettes made from maple, oak, birch, or elm woods burn cleanly with very little smoke or unpleasant odors. Use long-handled tongs to arrange the charcoal in a single layer across surface. Never move or transport the grill when in use or not fully cooled.
There are four vents to regulate airflow, as well as an aluminum ash catcher down below. This portable grill comes with a 10-year warranty, and it’s the clear choice for anyone who loves Weber’s full-size kettle grill. In general, gas or propane grills make for the best portable grills since they’re clean, easy and fast to get fired up.